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#### Path Optimization Procedure

This topic shows the procedure to optimize the path with the Optimize Path Workflow dialog box. It uses the default options.

This dialog box uses three panels. The dots at the bottom indicate the panels and which panel you're on. From left to right, these dots indicate panels 1, 2, and 3.

Step 1 - Set Options (Panel 1)

Panel 1 shows options you can select, as well as advanced settings.

1. Select Edit | Optimize Path or click Path Optimizer () from the QuickMeasure toolbar. This open the Optimize Path Workflow dialog box and changes the Edit window to show Command mode. For information on the dialog box, see "The Optimize Path Workflow Dialog Box".

Optimize Path Workflow dialog box (Panel 1)

2. On panel 1, from the Features and Options area, decide to optimize the path for all the features (All features) or a subset range of features (Selected features).

1. If you choose Selected features, from the Starting feature list, choose a start feature. You can also choose the feature directly from the Graphic Display window.

2. If you choose Selected features, from the Ending feature list, choose an end feature. You can also choose the feature directly from the Graphic Display window.

You can also open the dialog box with the starting and ending features already selected if you choose them first from the Edit window.

1. From the Edit window, select the first feature in the range.

2. Press Shift.

3. Select the last feature in the range.

4. Select Edit | Optimize Path.

3. If you need to do so, modify items under Advanced Settings.

4. Click the next button () to move to panel 2 in the dialog box. This initiates the path optimization process and shows a progress bar.

The path optimization makes permanent changes to your measurement routine. Make sure you're satisfied with the options in the first panel before you start the process on panel 2.

Once the optimization process finishes, the only way to revert it is to choose File | Quit and close the modified routine without saving it.

The previous button () only remains active until the optimization process finishes. Once the process finishes, you cannot go back to the first panel.

Step 2 - View the Results (Panel 2)

Panel 2 shows how much the path improved.

1. On panel 2, review the circle graph and the Shorter value.

2. Click the next button () to move to panel 3.

Step 3 - Cleanup Uncalibrated or Missing Tips (Panel 3)

Panel 3 shows the number of features without tips and the number of uncalibrated tips.

If you have features without tips:

1. From the Features without tips list, click on each feature to see that feature in the Graphic Display window and to see an optimum tip angle.

2. Use the area above the Features without tips list (the area with the Use only calibrated check box), and define a tip for the feature. This area behaves the same as the Select Tip toolbar in the "Using Toolbars" chapter.

3. Click Apply to evaluate the new tip against the remaining features in the list. If this new probe tip can measure any of these features, PC-DMIS assigns it to that feature and then removes the feature from the Features without tips list.

4. If you want to re-optimize the path based on the new tips, mark the Perform routing check box and click OK.

5. Once you click OK, the Optimize Path Summary dialog box closes, and the Auto Create Clearance Moves dialog box opens. Use this dialog box to automatically insert MOVE/POINT commands between features. For more information, see "Inserting Clearance Moves Automatically" in the "Inserting Move Commands" chapter.

If you have uncalibrated tips:

1. From the Uncalibrated Tips area, click on a tip and click Calibrate tip to open up the Probe Utilities dialog box.

2. From the Probe Utilities dialog box, click Measure to begin the calibration. For information on how to use the Probe Utilities dialog box to calibrate the tip, see "Measure" in the "Defining Hardware" chapter.

When you're done, click finish () to close the Optimize Path Workflow dialog box.

Step 4 - Apply Clearance Moves

If the Auto Create Clearance Moves dialog box opens, you can use this dialog box to insert moves between features. For information, see "Auto Create Clearance moves under the "Inserting Clearance Moves Automatically" topic in the "Inserting Move Commands" chapter.

Step 5 - Check for Collisions

It's always a good idea to check for collisions whenever your measurement routine changes. For more information, see "Detecting Collisions" in the "Editing the CAD Display" chapter.

During Optimization

During path optimization, PC-DMIS accounts for machine volume as the optimization makes the following default modifications:

- PC-DMIS sorts the features by the tips used to measure them. However, PC-DMIS does not sort across ALIGNMENT or LOADPROBE commands.

- PC-DMIS also sorts features inside of groups.

- PC-DMIS removes all MOVE/POINT commands, but preserves any motion commands or other parameters that may affect measurement, such as retract distance, prehit distance, and so on.

- PC-DMIS determines the best path for the probe to take based on distances between features and the tip change.

- PC-DMIS adds dimensions at the end of the measurement routine.

- PC-DMIS adds constructed features as soon as possible.

- PC-DMIS ensures that features that have the RMeas option are not measured prior to their related features.

- PC-DMIS then determines the best tip angle for each feature. For example, the optimal tip angle for a cylinder is based on the cylinder vector, which may or may not correspond to an exact tip angle.

- If PC-DMIS cannot find an appropriate tip, it assigns a tip of T?A?B? to that feature in the measurement routine. It then adds this feature to the Features without tips in panel 3.

The items under Advanced Settings in panel 1 can affect the above path optimization process and procedure. For information on these settings and their effects, see "Advanced Settings" in "The Optimize Path Workflow Dialog Box - Panel 1".